The mountains on Oahu in the Hawaiian Islands are dissolving from within under the slow but inexorable onslaught of groundwater, researchers say.Sometime in the distant future the mountainous tropical island will be reduced to a flat, low-lying island similar to Midway, scientists at Brigham Young University reported Friday.While external erosion is the primary force that wears down mountains, that's not the case on Oahu, they said."We tried to figure out how fast the island is going away and wh

Technology Dec. 24, 2012

The largest U.S. gun-rights lobbying organization declared its unwavering opposition to any new gun regulations in the aftermath of the massacre at a Connecticut elementary school, accusing the White House of trying to undermine the constitutional right to bear arms.Wayne LaPierre, CEO of the influential National Rifle Association, said Sunday that not a single gun regulation would make children safer. He criticized ``a media machine'' for blaming the gun industry for each new attack like the on

World News Dec. 24, 2012

Those ready to wrap up Christmas shopping by getting gift cards, a U.S. philosophy professor suggests reconsidering and buying a gift instead.Steven Gimbel of Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania discourages last-minute shoppers from purchasing gift cards because they primarily serve as an easy way out for the shopper."To avoid giving bad gifts, people have turned more and more to gift cards," Gimbel said in a statement.Gimbel said people need to remember why they are giving a gift. People are oft

Culture Dec. 24, 2012

Those ready to wrap up Christmas shopping by getting gift cards, a U.S. philosophy professor suggests reconsidering and buying a gift instead. Steven Gimbel of Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania discourages last-minute shoppers from purchasing gift cards because they primarily serve as an easy way out for the shopper."To avoid giving bad gifts, people have turned more and more to gift cards," Gimbel said in a statement. Gimbel said people need to remember why they are giving a gift. People are o

Culture Dec. 23, 2012

Indian police on Sunday banned protests in central New Delhi following a wave of violent demonstrations over the savage gang-rape of a medical student a week ago, an official statement said.Areas close to the president's residence and the parliament have been declared off-limits to protesters, it said, a day after police tear-gassed, baton-charged and fired water cannon at demonstrators.Thousands of protesters, most of them college students, rallied at the India Gate monument in the heart of the

World News Dec. 23, 2012

From the beginning of their Korea experience, Brad Moore, drummer from indie band Busker Busker which shot to fame with audition program "Superstar K", and Dani Bacon have been in on it together. “Since we met back home, we were actually together for two years before we came here, I think that really helped us. I can’t imagine coming here alone and struggling with all the things that we went through,” Dani said.Contrary to common perception, it was Dani that brought the couple to Korea four year

Performance Dec. 23, 2012

A Hong Kong-registered merchant ship has rescued all of the 17 South Korean and Myanmarese seamen from a sunken South Korean vessel early Sunday, South Korean maritime police said.All the 17 crewmen of the 2,518-ton South Korean vessel were moved to a lifeboat late Saturday when the vessel sank in waters 185 miles northeast of the Philippines, a maritime police spokesman said.Upon getting a distress report, a South Korean patrol plane rushed to the scene and asked for help from the Hong Kong fre

International Dec. 23, 2012

Egypt's Islamist-backed constitution received a “yes” majority in a final round of voting on a referendum that saw a low voter turnout, but the deep divisions it has opened up threaten to fuel continued turmoil.Passage is a victory for Islamist President Mohammed Morsi, but a costly one. The bruising battle over the past month stripped away hope that the long-awaited constitution would bring a national consensus on the path Egypt will take after shedding its autocratic ruler Hosni Mubarak nearly

World News Dec. 23, 2012

The defense ministry said Thursday that it will allow a local church to light up a Christmas tower near the tense border with North Korea, reversing its reluctant attitude over the sensitive tradition ahead of major political events.Military officials earlier this month said Christmas towers near the military demarcation line would not be lit up this year, apparently reflecting concerns that the move could have escalated tension ahead of Pyongyang's Dec. 12 rocket launch and the presidential ele

North Korea Dec. 20, 2012